In the annals of history, one of the most captivating and controversial forms of entertainment was undoubtedly the gladiatorial combat that took place in ancient Rome. While human gladiators battling each other are well-known, another aspect of this gruesome spectacle was the involvement of ferocious animals. A wide variety of animals were employed to participate in gladiatorial combat. Lions, symbolizing strength and courage, were the most popular choice. Bears, wolves, panthers, elephants, and even crocodiles were also brought into the amphitheaters to add diversity and intensity to the spectacle. Each creature brought its own set of challenges, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Gladiators engaged in combat with these formidable beasts were known as "venatores" or hunters. These warriors were trained to showcase their skills in confronting and subduing wild animals. Armed with a variety of weapons, including nets, tridents, and spears, the gladiators faced the dual challenge of surviving the onslaught of the animals and entertaining the crowds with their prowess. The inclusion of animals in gladiatorial combat served various purposes. It was a display of the empire's dominance over the natural world, symbolizing the Roman conquest of distant lands and the exotic creatures that inhabited them. Additionally, the bloodthirsty nature of these spectacles was believed to sate the public's desire for visceral entertainment while reinforcing the state's authority. Roman Republic: L. Livineius Regulus, AR Denarius, Rome mint, 42 BC, Babelon (Livineia) 12, Crawford 494/30, RBW 1735, Sydenham 1112 (3.11 g, 18 mm) Obverse: Bare head of Livineius Regulus to right Reverse: L•REGVLVS. Venatores standing left, spearing lion leaping right; behind, another man standing right, fighting with sword and shield against a panther leaping left; a wounded bear sits on the left, facing right
Venationes are not just history today. In many half-ruined half-restored Roman amphitheatres the show goes on ! And the debate is still there. C. 50 BC Cicero hated that show, he found it a disgrace to watch superb animals being butchered in the arena...
Well, I agree with Cicero, although nearly forty years ago when I was working in France I went to watch the bullfights in the Roman Arena in Arles a couple of times. But they didn't kill the bull, the humans were the ones at risk. Which is as it should be: after all it was their idea!
This aureus of the emperor Titus was struck for the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD. I'm sure the games were quite elaborate. Why yes, there were elephants there, though I don't know if they would have been faced off against venatores. I guess maybe not.
Domitian (81-96), quadrans, Rome 83-92. AE 17 mm, 2.60 g, 6 h. Obv.: two-horned rhinoceros walking left Rev.: IMP DOMIT AVG GERM around S C. RIC II.1 249 This African "black" rhino appeared at the Ludi Magni of Domitian, in the Colosseum. The poet Martial composed two epigrams about it. It was not opposed to venatores, he was opposed to a bull and to a bear. IX. ON THE RHINOCEROS. The rhinoceros, exhibited for thee, Caesar, in the whole space of the arena, fought battles of which he gave no promise. Oh, into what terrible wrath did he with lowered head, blaze forth! How powerful was that tusk to whom a bull was a mere ball! XXII. ON A RHINOCEROS. While the trembling keepers were exciting the rhinoceros, and the wrath of the huge animal had been long arousing itself the conflicts of the promised engagement were beginning to be despaired of; but at length his fury, well-known of old, returned. For easily as a bull tosses to the skies the balls placed upon his horns so with his double horn did he hurl aloft the heavy bear. Other rhinos, Indian or African, would be shown by later emperors in the Colosseum and/or the imperial menagerie. It does not seem any of them had to face human opponents, or there is no record of it. In Gladiator 2, a movie to be released soon, there is a scene in which a gladiator rides a bloodthirsty rhino, his horn covered with blood, but that's just Hollywood... In real life the last living rhino reported in Ancient Rome was the one belonging to Gordian III, and paraded by Philip the Arab in 248 for the Ludi Saeculares celebrating the 1000th Anniversary of Rome. No living rhino is reported in Europe after this until 1515. In this year the Portuguese brought a living Indian rhinoceros in Lisbon. It was a gift from Muzaffar II of Cambaya to Alfonso de Albuquerque, who soon sent it to his king Manuel I. What could he do with a rhino? There was a lavish parade in the streets of Lisbon, in which the rhino was covered with green velvet. After that, reading that ancient Romans used to oppose in the arena rhinos to other wild beast, and reading in Pliny that the rhino's arch-enemy was the elephant, Manuel organized a kind of medieval tournament opposing his rhino to his elephant (he happened to have one, too). But there was no blood : when the elephant saw the rhino, it panicked and rushed back to the railings, tore them apart and ran away in the streets. The rhino was proclaimed the winner.
One of favorite denarii... Regulus chewin' of a piece of grass, walkin' down the road... RR L Livineius Regulus AR Denarius 42 BCE 3.8g 19mm Regu bust - Gladiators in Arena Cr 494-30 Syd 1112 Sear 489
Thanks @GinoLR ... I like Rhinos... Growing up, my best friend was nicknamed Rhino... RI Trajan Egypt AE Dichalkon Laureate hd R Rhinoceros walking L LI-Z yr 17 CE 113-114 12.9mm 1.25g Emmet 719 var. of rhino right
